Door latch



Feb. 10, 1925.

A. GERMEK DOOR LATCH s SheetS -Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1924 a yer/736%) ATTORNEY Feb. 10, .1925.

A.GERMEK DOOR LATCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1924 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS: v

' WITNESS:

DOOR LATCH Filed March 5, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Ma a ATTORNEY ill Patented Feb. 1U, 1%25.

U hi T E D d hdthmh ANDREW GERMEK, F KINGSTQN, PENNSYLVANIA.

DUGR LATCH.

Application filed March 3, 19241. herial hl'o. (596,580.

has for an object to provide a latch which,

is especially adapted for use upon drop bottom or hopper cars and similar containers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a latch by means of which car doors and thelike may be held tightly closed to prevent coal dust or other line material from sifting out between the door and the door frame, and which in addition. may be easily opened or closed even though a heavy load may be hearing against the door.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fastening device of this character which includes a, removable and reversible latch engaging head which is capable of use at either side and which is constructed so that itmay be easily and quickly replaced should occasion demand.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to he hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation showing a portion of a hopper car with the invention applied.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the same.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4c is a section on the line 1-4 of Figure 3, the door being shown open by dotted lines.

1 F igure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of F igure 3.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 with the latch bar in released position.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional View of the crank arm.

Referring to the drawings in detail where in like characters of reference denote corresponding parts. the reference character 1 3- indicates a portion of railway ear of the hopper type, the hoppers being shown at 1'1 and the doors at 12. These doors are hingedly mounted as indicated at 13 and are pro vided along their bottom edges with angle bars 1 1. Where the construction of the car includes hoppers arranged in pairs at each end of the car as shown in the drawings, the bars 1d extend the entire width of the car and are secured to the doors so that the latter are connected in pairs whereby each pair may be simultaneously opened and closed. This hopper arrangement provides a channel 15 between each pair of hoppers.

As each pair of hoppers is similarly equipped with a latching mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention, only one of such mechanisms will be described. This mechanism includes a rock shaft 16 which is disposed transversely of the car and which is mounted in spaced inner bearing members or brackets 17 and an outer bearing member or plate 18, the latter being secured along the outer edge of the hopper. This bearing plate 18 is preferably shaped as shown in the drawings and carr es a bearing sleeve 19 which extends from the opposite faces of the plate and is adapted to receive a cylindrical extension 20 which is carried by a rotatable head or keeper member 21. The cylindrical extension 20 is provided with a socket 21 to receive one end of the shaft 16 and provides a bushing for the shaft which is rotatable within the sleeve 19.

The head 21 is provided with an annular channel 22 having transversely arranged oppositely disposed sets of teeth 23 therein. These teeth are adapted to be engaged by one end of a. latching bar 2 1., the said bar being provided with a shoulder as for this purpose. The opposite end of the bar 2 1 is pivotally mounted upon a in 26 which is secured within spaced eyes 2 provided upon an offset lug 28 which is carried by the hearing plate 18. A cotter or other pin 29 serves to secure the pin 26 in place. This end of the latch bar is provided with a striker 9X- tension 30 which when struck with a suitable implement will serve to loosen or disengage the shoulder 25 from the teeth 23, will. be hereinafter apparent. Extending from the outer face of the head 521 are axially disposed spaced headed studs 31 which are adapted to be engaged by an operating bar, whereby the head may he rotated to roclt the shaft 16.

Secured upon the shaft 16 and extending within the channel 15 is an arm 40. This arm is formed of spaced plates 41 which are connected by spaced transversely disposed members 42 and 43, the former being provided with an opening for theshaft 16. The plates 41 are provided with reinforcing flanges 44.

The crank arm 40 is connected to one end of a rod 45, the latter being provided with d an offset arm 46'which has extending'therefrom laterally disposed trunnions 47 which engage the walls of openings 48 provided in the spaced plates 41. The rod is also provided with an offset tongue 49, arecess 50 being formed in the rod between this tongue and the arm 46 to receive the transverse spacing member 43. A recess 51 is' provided in the rod 45 adjacent the tongue 49 and receives the transverse spacing member 42. One face of the member 42 and one face of the member 43 provide seats or shoulders 52 and 53 respectively for engagement by the arm 46 and the tongue 49 so that when the rod 45 is in the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings it will be necessary to rock the shaft 16 before the rod 45 may be moved longitudinally.

The opposite or outer end of the rod 45 has a pivotal connection as shown at 54 with one end of a link 55. The opposite end of this link is adjustably connected to a wedge 56 by means of a removable pin 57, the latter being adapted for insertion in any one of a number of spaced openings provided in the wedge. The link extends through the bar 14 and carries a collar 58 which is provided with a tooth 59 for engagement with one of a number of spaced teeth 60 provided in the wedge 56. By adjusting the wedge with respect to the link 55, the length of the connection betweenthe shaft 16 and the door 12 may be regulated so that the latter may be held in tightly closed position. The Wedge extends through a slot 61 provided in the link 55. Y

By means of the construction just described, the door 12 may be released by rotating the head 21 so as to rock the shaft 16 to move the arm in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 4. Movement in an opposite direction will serve to close the door, the construction furnishing considerable power so that the door may be closed irrespective of the load within the hopper. In addition, the connection between the shaft 16 and the door 12 ,will prevent accidental opening of the door, the arm 46 and the tongue 49 engaging theshoulders 43 and 42 and providing a safeguard in the event of certain of the mechanism becoming defective.

By arranging the teeth within the chan- 1101 22, there is provided annular flanges at opposite sides of the channel to guide the end of the latch bar in its pivotal movement.

In order to prevent accidental engagement of the latch bar from the head21 there is provided a rotatably mounted cam or dog 32. This cam or dog has a socket 33 which receives a stud 34 extending from the plate 18 so that the cam or dog may be rotated to engage the latch to hold the latter in closed position as shown in Figure 5 of the rawings. One wall of the channel 22 is extended to provide a flange 35 which is adapted to extend upward between the cam proper and the annular flange 36 carried by the cam so that the latter may freely rotate but be held from accidental removal from the stud 34 without the aid of fastening devices such as screws, bolts and so forth. It might be here mentioned that the head 21 is also held in place without the use of such fastening devices, the latch bar and the cam acting to retain the head which is merely slipped within the sleeve 19 from the end of the shaft 16.

Extending from the cam 32 is a'stud 37 which, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings is arranged so as to be engaged by an operating bar inserted between this stud and one of the studs 31 so as to ti htly wedge the cam in place or to facilitate its release. In addition, the cam 32 carries .a curved flange or extension 38 which is adapted to enga e an offset extremity 39 provided on the atch bar 24, this engagement serving to hold the latch bar in elevated or disengaged position as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings that the invention provides an exceedin ly simple, eflicient and powerful latching device for the purposes set forth. In addition by means of the construction shown and described, the kee er head 21 and the cam 32 may be readiy removed or replaced, While the arrangement of the teeth 23 of the head 21 permits of the said head being used upon either side or at either end of the car.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the claimed is I. A. car door securing device comprising in combination with a hingedly mounted door, a rock shaft mounted transversely of the car, means connecting the rock shaft and door, a latch pivotally mounted upon the car, means mounted u on the shaft and engageable by the latc1 to hold the shaft H HIIISiZ movement and a locking dog adapted to engage the latch to hold the latter in either open or closed position.

invention what is the car, means connectin 2. A car door securing device comprising in combination with a hingedly mounted door, a rockshaft mounted transversely of the car, means, connecting the rock shaft and door, a latch pivotally mounted upon the car, meansmounted upon the shaft and engageable by the latch to hold the shaft against movement, a rotatably mounted cam adapted to engage the latch to hold the latter in closed position and means carried by the cam for engagement with the latch to hold said latch in open position.

3. A car door securing device comprising in combination with a hingedly mounted door, a rock shaft mounted transversely of the rock shaft and door, a latch bar pivotally mounted upon the car, a reversible member mounted upon the rock shaft, a shoulder at one end 0 the latch for engagement with the toothed member and a striker extension at the opposite end of the latch bar.

4. A car door securing device comprising in combination with a hingedly mounted bar, a rock shaft mounted transversely of the car, a circumferentially grooved ead secured to the rock shaft to provide opposed retaining flanges and teeth arranged transverselyof the groove for engagement by the latch to hold the shaft against rotation.

5. A car door securing device comprisin in combination with a hingedly mounted door, a shaft mounted transversely of the car, bearing plates for said shaft, a bearing sleeve carried by and extending through one of the plates, a socketed member removably located within the sleeve and receivin one end of the shaft, a pivotally .mounted atch bar, means carried by the head for engagement by the latch bar, a stud extending from the sleeve carrying plate, a dog pivotally mounted on the stud to engage the latch and hold the latter'against movement and means operatively connecting the shaft and door.

6. A car door securing device comprisin in combination with a hingedly mounted door, a rock shaft mounted transversely of the car, and arm secured to the rock shaft,

a rod having one end pivotally connectedto said arm, means including a wedge for adjustably connecting the opposite end of the rod with'the door and means for holdin the rock shaft against rotation. I

7. A car door securing device comprising in combination with a hingedly mounted door, a rock shaft mounted'transversely of the car, an arm including spaced parallel plates secured upon the rock shaft, trans- In testimony whereof I aifix my signature. Q

ANDREW GERMEK. 

